"Ah! how happy I am!"
The two beautiful and graceful young creatures formed an exquisite and poetic picture; with all their trembling passion there was no sign of vulgar or ignoble feeling,--it seemed a picture of a pure and happy love.
The face of the beautiful woman showed no trace of the scene she had just taken part in, in that very room, and no one could have thought, had they looked at the young man as he pressed his lips against the perfumed hair of the head resting on his shoulder, that notwithstanding the enchanted mist that surrounded him, a purer star was shining ever brighter for his heart.
It was a picture of the present, of a happy fleeting moment, enjoyed without a thought of what went before, of what must follow.
A deep sigh heaved her breast and trembled through her form as she leant against her lover.
"Why do you sigh? my sweet Tonia. What happiness is wanting to her who is created to give happiness?"
"Oh! my beloved," she said, and a second sigh trembled from her lips, "I am not always so happy as now, when I rest on your breast, and just before--" she hesitated.
"What happened just before?" he asked, "to make those lovely lips twice sigh, though formed only for smiles and kisses?"
And he slightly raised her head and pressed his lips to hers.
"My husband was here," she said, sighing the third time.